Improvement in machines for pressing seams



2 Sheets-Sheen 1 J. G. GRIFFITH. Machine for Pressing Seams. 7 No.209,339. 1 Patented Oct. 29,1878.

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2 Sheets-Sheet J. G. GRIFFITH. Machine for Pressing Seams. No. 209,339.Patented'Oct. 29,1878.

itmssms: f z v V v 7 gitihnnmim ng RPETERS, PNOTO-UTNOGRAPHER, WASHINdDN. I'Jv C be a suflicicntly full, clear, and exact descripshow detachedviews of details of the inven- UNITED. STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH Gr. GRIFFITH,

or NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,339, dated October29, 1878 application filed October '15, 1877.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH G. GRIFFITH, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and useful machine to he usedin the manufacture of clothing for the purpose of opening and pressingthe seams by which the parts are united, and said machine is alsoapplicable to pressing the folds of cloth in giving the form or set tocollars, cuffs, and other folded portions of clothing; and I do herebydeclare the following to tion thereof to enable persons skilled in theart'to make and use the said invention, referring in this description tothe drawing annexed and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The several Figures 1, 2, and 3, respectively, show a plan, a sideelevation, and a vertical section in the plane indicated by the dottedline X X in Fig. l. The remaining figures tion and a modified form ofparts.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in a sponging or moisteningdevice, by which the parts of the seams to be pressed are moistenedbefore passing into the space between the rollers; second, in anarrangement by which the opening and sponging devices may be quicklyremoved from or returned to proximity to the rollers, so as to readilyadapt the machine to press either scams or flat surfaces.

A represents the frame of the machine, bearing two shafts, B and 0. Uponthe ends of the shafts B and G, at the open side of the frame, are tworollers, D and E, made preferably of metal, which are hollow, and may beheated either by steam or by gas jets, or by a lamp-flame, or slugspreviously heated, as callender-rollers are commonly heated.

The upper shaft, B, is provided with a box, F, fitted so as to rise andfall in the frame A, and springs G and H are placed, respectively, underand on top of the box F. The under sprin g,G, which is the weaker,raises the shaft B and separates the rollers D and E when the pressureof the upper spring, H, is relieved. The upper spring, H, is presseddown by a screw, J, and may be raised and its pressure relieved by alever, K.

A table, L, serves to support the work, and

has an aperture, through which the lower roller, E, is adapted to rise.

A plow, M, fastened to the upper part of the frame A, reaches downwardand parts the cloth forming the reverse side of the seam, and spreadsthe cloth in a horizontal position as it passes to the rollers. Adetached view of the plow M is shown in Fig. 4.

A tube, N, having a sponge, wick, or other similar capillarytermination, serves to moisten the cloth as it passes to the rollers.This tube N is shown in a detached view in Fig. 5, and is attached tothe frame A.

Both the plow M and moistening device N are hinged or jointed, so thatthey may be raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 whenthe machine is to be used -for pressing flat surfaces, and be returnedto their former position without loss of adjustment when used forseam-pressing.

The shafts B and G are connected, so as to rotate together, by toothedwheels 0 O and P, and are drivenbylapulley, Q, and band It. The pulleycan'b'e instantly engaged or disengaged by a suitable friction-clutch,S, controlled by a lever, T, worked by the operator.

When work is made of such material that the surface would be impaired bya metallic roller, I substitute a cushioned or soft roller, and relyupon heating one roller, which is applied to the reverse side.

To use my invention for pressing seams, I enter the seams with thereverse side upward, and press them upon the tongue of the plow untilthey reach the space between the rollers. They are then carried throughby the rotary motion of the rollers, and the opening, moistening, andpressing of the seams continues, the work being guided by hand to theplow.

When it is desired to press for a greater length of time upon any onepoint in the seam, as at the intersection of seams, I unclutch thedriving pulley and let the part desired to be so pressed rest betweenthe rollers.

When articles such as the sleeves orlegs of garments are to be pressed,they are put on a sleeve-board, 'V. The table L and lower roller,

E, are removed and a smaller roller, E substituted, as shown in dottedlines, Fig. 2; or the board V may be supported by rollers E and E Theseam of the sleeve or similar part being presented to the plow M passesunder the roller D and is pressed against the board V.

- The rollers E E and E should be covered with some soft substance, suchas cloth, gum, or felt, when sleeves are pressed which are made frommaterial liable to be marked or defaced by the pressure of the rollers EE and E against the cloth on the under side of the sleeve-board V.

To facilitate the use of the machine on small articles, or when steam orother propelling power is not at command, I use a crank, W, shaft W andpinion W gearing into the cogwheel P. The same may be effected by abevel-wheel, Y, and pinion Y and crank Y (Shown in Fig. 3.) The table Lis adjustable in height by screws L When I wish to withdraw a piece ofwork without pressing the seam to its termination, I raise the upperroller. To press flat surfaces, I turn the tube N and plow M up out ofthe reach of the work, and then operate the machine as an ordinary hotcalender.

I am aware that heated rollers, both with and without adjustingmechanisms, have been employed for pressing or ironing clothing, andthese, therefore, I do not claim as a part of my invention; neither do Ibroadly claim the driving mechanism for propelling them; but,

Having described my invention and the mode of operating the same, what Iclaim as new and useful, and as my original and first invention, is-

1. In combination, the rollers D and E, plow M, and moistening-tube N,as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The plow M, hinged to the frame A, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The moistening device N, hinged to the frame A, as and for thepurpose set forth.

JOSEPH Gr. GRIFFITH;

Witnesses:

S. LLOYD WIEGAND. OTTO MEYER.

